Science
From mathematics and AI to medicine and psychology, The Optimist Daily features the latest news on discoveries, technological advances, and breakthroughs in the world of science. Our Science section is here to engage and enlighten you.
Nigeria is betting on solar power to reach a million homes without access to the grid
Nigeria is gearing up to tackle its chronic shortage of electricity. The World Bank, the International Finance Corporation as well local banks and energy firms are partnering up to help develop a private sector that will provide electricity, using solar power, to a million households who lack Read More...
This incredible building material reflects heat back into space, keeping you cool
What if instead of spending vast amounts of electricity to keep our buildings cool from the inside, we just bounced the heat where it came from? Allow us to explain. Aaswath Raman, a researcher at Stanford University, is working on building a material that is ultra-reflective to the sun’s rays Read More...
Several countries and U.S. states push for ban on petrol and diesel cars by 2050
During the climate conference in Paris, a group of European countries and North American states committed to a ban on the sale of conventional cars by 2050. They are united in the International Zero Emissions Vehicle Alliance, and the group includes the United Kingdom, Norway and the Netherlands Read More...
Baidu’s self-driving car has hit the road
Today, Baidu, the “Chinese Google,” announced its autonomous car has successfully navigated a complicated route through Beijing. According to the company, the modified BMW 3-Series drove an 18.6-mile route around the capital city that included side streets as well as highways. The car Read More...
South Korea unveils plans to surge green car production
South Korea wants to lead the world in the transition to eco-friendly cars. On Tuesday, the country announced ambitious plans that will increase the annual production of hybrid and electric-powered cars from 80,000 this year to 920,000 over the next five years. It will invest $127 million to help Read More...
Coca-Cola, BMW and four others join the growing list of companies going 100% renewable
While Leonardo DiCaprio was urging mayors and governors to “commit to moving to no less than 100% renewable energy as soon as possible,” some of the world’s biggest companies have pledged to go fully renewable. RE100, a project that invites influential companies to commit to 100% renewable Read More...
"Water-in-salt" battery bodes well for greener, safer grid storage
Scientists at the University of Maryland and the US Army Research Laboratory have used high concentrations of salt in water to create safe, green batteries that could find use in anything from large-scale grid storage to spaceships and pacemakers. Many of today's batteries are designed so that, on Read More...
The Tea Party leader taking a stand for solar energy: 'I will do what's right'
Debbie Dooley is a firebrand Republican and an outspoken founding member of the Tea Party. But in a fast-intensifying battle over the future of solar power in Florida, she is not on the side you might expect. Along with a diverse grassroots citizens’ coalition including environmentalists and Read More...
When it comes to energy, more countries need to be like Uruguay
Uruguay is showing the world that transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is not only possible, but rather easy and affordable. Through a diverse range of energy sources such as wind turbines, solar power, hydropower and biomass, the South American country now supplies 94.5% of its Read More...
Welcome to California's hydrogen highway
The loudest thing you’ll hear from behind the wheel of a fuel-cell car driving up the Californian coast is the hum of the tyres on the concrete interstate stretching north from Los Angeles towards Silicon Valley and San Francisco. There’s no rumble of a big American engine from under Read More...